I am not proud to admit this, but I was very close to missing a flight for a work trip last week.
I usually buffer enough time and I usually get to the airport early. That way, I know I will have enough time to go through security. If I have extra time, I can grab a bite to eat or stop by a lounge.
A Well Laid Out Plan
My 1 hour and 15 minute flight was scheduled for a 6AM departure. A nice, short domestic segment. Boarding was scheduled to start at 5:30AM.
Planning was easy. It normally takes me about 20 minutes to get to the airport, so I figured I’ll head out by 4:30AM. Since it was the early morning hours, I expect very little traffic on the road. Based of past experience, I should be at the airport by 4:50AM. This seemed like a reasonable schedule; I’ll be at the airport a little more than an hour before the 6AM flight.
I already checked in the night before, so I have my mobile boarding pass ready. I was not checking in any luggage, either. The only uncertainty was the wait time at the security line. Since I have TSA PRE, I figured I have budgeted enough time and should even have a little time to grab a bite from the food court!
What happened?
The plan started off well. I was out the door by 4:30AM. It was still dark and quiet outside, with very few vehicles on the road. I took the usual roads to the airport, and things seemed to go according to plan. Until, I got near the ramp I needed to get on to get to the airport. It was closed!
“Oh no”, I thought, “Seriously? Construction work? Detours? This can’t be happening.”
My phone GPS was trying to re-route me, but I had no idea if it was trying to take me back to a closed road again. I decided to play it safe and followed the detour signs, going through some unfamiliar roads.
Let’s just say by the time I got to the airport and parked at the terminal lot, it was 5:10AM. I’d like to make it to the boarding area by 5:30AM.
An Amateur Gaffe
I am quite comfortable with airports, but I also made a major gaffe during this trip. The gate number on my mobile boarding pass says that my flight will be at Gate 22. I followed the signage at the airport, and I stopped when I saw two signs at the top of the overhead ceiling. Each had gate numbers on them, one pointing to one direction and the other at the other direction.
There was a line of people waiting on the Gate 20-3x side. Since my gate is in that range, I started to line up behind those people. I was a little confused and I kept looking around, even as I waited. Something doesn’t seem right.
“Isn’t there a separate line for TSA PRE? Why is security happening before check-in? Is this a new procedure? Tightened security?” “And why is this line moving so slowly?”
Another lady lined up behind me and asked aloud, “Is this the line? Isn’t there a TSA PRE line?”
“Yeah, I was wondering the same thing too”, I responded. The guy in front of me turned around and answered her emphatically, “Yes, this is the line. There is no TSA PRE for this line.”
It sounds like I’m at the right place. It must be a new process.
Realizing My Mistake
A few more minutes passed and I kept looking at the time on my phone. Boarding is starting. I am in Group 5 on American Airlines, and I figured could probably be late by a few minutes since Group 1-4 has to board first. I just don’t want to miss my flight.
Suddenly, the line moved up a little, and I saw another sign. “Air Canada boarding”.
“You’ve got to be kidding me”, I thought in my head. I would have laughed out loud if I wasn’t in such a rush.
I politely asked the guy in front of me, “Hi, are you waiting in line for an Air Canada flight?” He nodded.
“Thanks, and I’m in the wrong line” I added, as I shook my head and dashed off from the line. I saw an airport worker and asked him for the TSA PRE line, and he helpfully pointed the way.
TSA PRE To The Rescue!
I rushed to the TSA PRE line, and I was so thankful that there was only one person in front of me. As I walked through the security scan, the alarm beeped. In my rush to get to the gate, I forgot to take out my phone. I stepped back and put my phone in the bucket and tried again.
“I’m already running late.” I thought. “Please, just please don’t choose me for an enhanced security check this time.” I don’t usually get selected, but sometimes when it rains, it pours.
Thankfully, I went through security checkpoint without incident. I rushed to my gate where boarding was already underway. They were already boarding Group 4. Less than a minute later, they announced boarding for Group 5 and I lined up for my next adventure.
Summary
I’ve been on both sides of the coin now. I’ve gotten to the airport so early that the check-in counter wasn’t even open, and I’ve gotten to the airport so late (in this case) that I nearly missed my flight.
It’s definitely more stressful to be late than early, due to the potential of missing a flight. Still, I am not sure if I would have changed my planning significantly. I thought that I gave myself enough of a buffer already; I guess it can’t hurt to add another 10-20 minutes to it.
How close have you cut it to missing a flight?
Way back in the 70’s I had to make a business trip from LAX to Portland,OR for the company plant in Berkeley,CA: their guy was in Salt Lake. I made it back to the airport in Portland and boarded in time for them to close the door behind me. Thank Goodness no stupid TSA in those days. It was the last flight that day to LAX.
I was attending World Youth Day Cologne in 2005. We had flights booked on Lufthansa from FRA-PHL that day. We woke up at 5am to make the trek to Frankfurt. We ran from security to the plane and agents saw us running and began waving us to hurry, one of them stuck his arm in between the closing jetway door. They said we were the last to board but they ran out of economy seats. Put my dad and I in business. Wasn’t lie flat on the A343 but I was 15 and it was awesome.
June 2017: Due to a series of obstacles, I parked in Extended Parking a mile from the PIT terminal 30 minutes before takeoff. My flight was already boarding. After 20 minutes of sprinting, I arrived at my gate as they were calling out my name on the intercom for last boarding. The flight departed on schedule. Sometimes it pays to be in shape.
Haha, your last sentence made me laugh. Glad you made it though, it’s tough to sprint around the airport, let alone 20 minutes! 🙂
I’ve been the last to board a few times. Walk down the “isle of shame” as I pass everyone else who was already seated.
Normally I can time my trip to the airport on Monday to get through security 30 minutes before departure. The ideal situation is that I arrive at the gate and the plane should already have started boarding.
Heh, it is quite obvious when a passenger is a late arriving passenger vs someone who is just boarding last in the last boarding group. To be fair though, I don’t even think of it as an isle of shame, as long as you’re not holding up the plane from leaving on its “scheduled” departure time.
In the early 90’s on a Cayman Airways flight departing from MIA, I literally had them open the door to the jet bridge while I ran down it. I was in 1C so I lunged onto the plane, they closed the door and immediately pushed back.
No way they’d do that today.
Ha! I’m remembering even my bags made it…and I checked them at the closed counter about 20 mins take-off.
But back then airline staff would try to help you and were rooting for you. Now they just close the door in your face and walk away like they’re heros.
I had a time I was traveling with my wife and kids returning on a flight from TLV and connecting in YYZ on the way to EWR. We took off on time from Israel and got to Toronto a few minutes early. We were supposed to have a 1.5 hour connection but the flight schedule changed while we were mid air and the flight was now scheduled to leave an hour earlier. We don’t find out until we land and deplane that we have about 10 minutes to clear customs go back through security to board our connection. Running through… Read more »
“We thought we for sure missed the flight but ran with our bags on our backs and pushing a double stroller through an unfamiliar airport.”
I’ve seen it happen a couple of times, and whenever I see parents with strollers dashing off across the airports, I always quietly wish them luck and hope they make it in time for their flights. I think it’s easy for people to to assume that “they should’ve planned it better”, but sometimes an unexpected schedule change can throw a wrench in your plans.
Thanks for sharing your experience!
Really I should be thanking you because without you and other travel bloggers I wouldn’t be able to travel as much as I do. Every tip and trick I learned from these blogs/forums I utilize to make my travels easier and more comfortable!! In the past 4 years since starting to follow travel bloggers I have attained mid tier status on 5 airlines and mid to high tier status on many hotel chains!! I have been able to taken my wife and kids around the world. My next stop is Singapore with the family in January with a few work… Read more »